Digital Nigeria Day 2022: We have recorded unprecedented achievements – Pantami
By Abbas Badmus
TECHDIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isah Ali Pantami, has scored his ministry high in achieving its mandate, noting that the ICT sector has recorded unprecedented achievements for the country’s growth Domestic Product [GDP].
The Minister, who stated this during a press conference to kick off Digital Nigeria Day and United Nations World Development Information Day, said the sector has witnessed transformational change between 2019 and 2022.
He said that the critical role and feats achieved by the sector helped the country to exit two recessions.
“The ICT sector provided 3 unprecedented contributions to the Gross Domestic Product [GDP] of the country in the last three years, namely 14.07% in Q1 2020, 17.92% in Q2 2021 and 18.44% in Q2 2022. At each time, these numbers have been the highest ever contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP.
“Also, the ICT sector grew by 14.70% in Q4 2020, making it the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy in the last quarter of 2020 and the only sector to have grown by double digits. This played a critical role in enabling Nigeria to exit recession. Furthermore, the quarterly revenues also generated for the Federal Government rose from N51.3 billion to N408.7 billion, through spectrum sales and taxes from the sector.”
Mr Pantami, while eulogising the Chief Executive officers of the parastatals under his supervision, disclosed that the Ministry excelled at the just concluded ministerial retreat, which was organised by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
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He said the Ministry obtained the highest grades in the 8 ministerial deliverables, in the assessment which was carried out by Foreign, Common Wealth and Development Office [FCDO], UK, and KPMG, among others.
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He said, ” Implementation of Broadband Connectivity, 134%; Deployment of 4G across the country, 127%; Digitalising government functions and processes, 99% ; Development and implementation of a National Digital Economy policy and strategy, 103%; Implementation of a digital identity program, 86%; Improvement and optimisation of revenues from all operators and licenses in the agencies under the ministry’s supervision, 594%; active collaboration with the private sector to create jobs, 111%; empowerment of citizens, 137%. The minister disclosed.
Mr Pantami also stated that the Nigeria Start-up Bill, which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari last week, will significantly improve Nigeria’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
He added that the Ministry and it’s parastals have developed 17 policies between 2019- 2022.
“Over 863,372 citizens benefitted from digital skills programmes and we have agreements with leading global companies like Microsoft and Huawei, to train millions of Nigerians”,
Mr Pantami recalled that on assumption of office in 2019, the official broadband penetration figures stood at 33.72% and had increased to 44.65% in 2022. These figures, he said, represent close to 13 million new broadband users.
“Similarly,there were 13,13823 4G base stations and we now have 36,751, representing a 165.86% increase.
“The percentage of 4G coverage across the country also increased from 23%to 77.52 %. Additionally, the cost of data has crashed from N1,200 per GB to about N350, making it easier for Nigerians to connect to the internet”.
The Minister also disclosed that 90 million Nigerians have been issued with National Identification Numbers, adding that the newly established Nigeria Data Protection Bureau has been addressing privacy concerns.
He also said Nigeria has been very active in the emerging technology space and which he said led to the establishment of the National Center for Artificial Intelligence, NCAIR, adding that is was the first in Africa.
He revealed the ministry plans to create a pool of innovation-driven enterprises [IDEs]to accelerate the development of the digital economy in Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, The Director General of National Information Technology Agency [ NITDA], Kashifu Inuwa, said that the DND would be a week-long programme from Oct. 25 to 27.
Mr Inuwa said that Nigeria was ready for a digital economy, as well as transformation, hence everyone should key in.
The 2022 celebration has as it’s theme “Digital Transformation: A Path to Sustainable Digital Economy.’’
